Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 289: To ask the Minister for Finance if a second Revenue cutter will be delivered in September 2009 as planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31394/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that sea trials are due to commence next week at the shipyard in Finland, where the second Revenue Cutter was built. Following those trials and any necessary changes to the vessel, shipyard personnel are due to deliver the cutter to Ireland for handover to Revenue Customs in the last week of September. The actual delivery date is dependent on the duration of the sea trials and weather conditions during the voyage from Finland to Ireland. Allowing for a short period of time for crew familiarisation, it is expected that the cutter will come into full service in the second half of October.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 290: To ask the Minister for Finance if a second x-ray container scanner has been delivered to the customs service; if not, the stage the process is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31395/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the container scanner project remains on target for the new scanner to be deployed by the end of this year. The procurement process is at an advanced stage, Revenue having signed the contract and agreed the manufacturing and factory-acceptance testing schedule with the supplier.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of customs checks which took place at each airport here in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31396/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the table below sets out the number of customs checks at the airports/aerodromes that have flights into and out of the State, on either a scheduled or an on-going basis. The type of customs checks implemented vary significantly, depending on the type and origin of traffic and the level of risk in each case.

Some other aerodromes do have occasional flights into or out of the State, when permission is usually given on a one off basis. These aerodromes, together with all other small aerodromes/airstrips where there is a possibility for flights to arrive from outside the State, are also subject to customs checks, having regard to the level of risk at the aerodrome in question. However, it is not appropriate to publish details of the number of checks in each case, as this could prejudice the control being applied.

Table:

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 292: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of sniffer dogs available to customs officers; the locations covered by these sniffer dogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31397/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there are currently 12 detector dog teams in Revenue's Customs Service. The teams are deployed in the Revenue Regions as follows:

Dublin Region – 5 detector dog teams

South West Region – 3 detector dog teams

East & South East Region – 3 detector dog teams

Border Midlands West Region – 1 detector dog team

A further team is in training and is expected to be operational by the end of the month. This team will be deployed in the Dublin Region.

The teams are primarily deployed across their region of assignment, but are also available to work elsewhere as the exigencies of the Service demand. Their main function is the detection of illicit drugs, but there is also one team trained to detect tobacco/cigarettes and one team trained to detect currency. The Deputy will appreciate that illicit cash movements are the lifeblood of organised crime and drug trafficking. The detector dog teams play an important role in delivering on Revenue's commitments to the Supply Reduction Pillar of the Government's National Drugs Strategy; and the recently published strategy document for the period 2009-2016 recognises this.